Russia expands factory in Tatarstan to produce 28,000 additional drones per year

Russia plans to increase production of Geran-type strike drones by approximately 28,000 units per year by expanding the Alabuga-Volokno factory in Tatarstan. This was reported by Politico, citing documents obtained from Rosatom.

The project centers on the construction of a new carbon fiber production line with a capacity of up to 500 tons per year. This material is used in drone airframes. According to expert David Albright, that volume would allow the production of airframes for approximately 28,000 drones annually.

Ukraine estimates current Russian production of Geran drones at more than 36,000 units per year. The factory expansion could therefore increase that capacity by approximately 78%.

According to the documents, construction is scheduled for completion in 2027, with the stated capacity to be reached by 2029. Satellite images already show site preparation underway next to the existing factory.

Among the project’s stated goals, the documents also cite reducing Russia’s dependence on imported components from China and supplying carbon fiber to the aviation and defense industries.

The authenticity of the documents was confirmed by representatives of the US and Ukrainian governments, according to Politico.

Earlier, in May, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported that the territory of the Alabuga special economic zone, where Geran drones are produced, had expanded by approximately 340 hectares over the course of a year. Western media also reported that Russia’s new Geran-5 jet-powered drones significantly outperform previous models and are changing the course of the air war.